SOAPing Esther– Seeking His guidance and setting the stage

I’m reading and SOAPing my way through Esther. Today I am sharing my SOAP response to chapter five.  If you’re looking for a devotional guide or Bible reading plan, I’d love for you to join me. Here’s what stood out to me today:

Scripture: Esther 5:8

If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.

Observation:

Esther was not hasty in asking the king to change the order. She took the time to set the stage and ask appropriately.

Application:

I’ll admit it. So often when I want something, or want something to change I want it right away.

Esther knew that her request was a big one. She took the time to set the stage and ask the king in a way that had a better chance at yielding a positive response than just blurting it out. And before she even acted the first time by standing in the inner courts, she fasted and asked other to fast with her, most likely praying and asking God for His guidance.

I should also be so patient as to seek God’s guidance, wait, and then set the stage for my actions rather than just jumping in. For some things this process would be longer ir shorter, but for all it would yield better results than just jumping in full force.

Prayer:

Lord, I am thankful that I am not in the same position Esther was in here, but I still need to slow down, seek your guidance and then plan my approach in more ways than I currently do. Thank you for Esther’s obedience to you. Thank you for her example of taking things appropriately slow in this example, and setting the stage appropriately for her request.

You  know I need your guidance right now (as I do always) in setting the stage for things to come. Help me to choose my actions and words wisely and honor you in all that I am doing. I don’t know the next steps, and the deeper I get, I don’t even know the end result anymore. But you do. Show me the steps I need to follow. Show me when to go slow and ponder and when and how to forge ahead. You amaze me, Lord. Thank you for the opportunity to see you in all the areas of my life. And thank you for being there, guiding me in all of them, too.

Are you reading alongside me? If so, what grabbed you in today’s passage?  Do you seek God’s direction for your life or do you forge ahead without Him? How do you hear Him best? Please tell me in the comments… 

If you’d like to join me, tomorrow I will be sharing my SOAP response to chapter six of Esther.

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Wondering what SOAP is? Click over to read What is SOAP?